Correspondence Between Sydney May And F.J Watson Concerning Aboriginal Place Names (ITM489477)

Nyleta, Union street, Toowong, S.W.1. Nov. 22nd, 1940.

Mr. Sydney May, Hon. Secretary, Q'ld, Place Names Committee, University of Queensland

Dear Sir,

I have letter of yesterday with description of West Nundah to hand. With regard to the trees mentioned, the native names of those not yet embodied in place names are not such as would help to make a euphonious place name except perhaps Yúrabá, meaning "place of spotted gum trees". With regard to the hilly nature of the place the word Búrubá (Buroóbá) meaning" place of hills" might be suggested,; the name , however, implies plurality and would not suit if for one hill only. Burunga, sometimes pronounced búruná (buroóná) means"hilly" , but this would be too much like the existing place name, _Baroona , which possibly has the same origin. Bári-ngá, which may also be pronounced "Báriná" means "at or on the top". Nya-gilli, (the ultimate vowel as ee in english bee), meaning "See a long way". Nya-kuĺla-kuĺla, meaning"see there and there, i.e. everywhere". Perhaps the most suitable name would be Wańduma, meaning "Rising or climbing upward". This word is common to the the local and two adjacent languages and a place of this description was actually so-named by the blacks but does not appear on any official map. Care should be taken to note whether any of these names are already in use.

Yours faithfully, FJ Watson P.S. Please note the accentuation of syllables. FJW.

Union Street, Toowong, 15th Nov. 1940.

Dear Mr. May,

I note that ,in today's Telegraph, it was stated that at a meeting of West Nundah resident's , that you had suggested the word Inala , meaning"Home of rest" as a new name for West Nundah.

As I had given you this word and its meaning , I would point out that the said meaning is incorrect. As a matter of fact , the aborigine , having no permanent place of abode , had no equivalent of the word home. Inala , or more correctly , nyinala , is the future tense of the Yugumbir very nyina , meaning to lie or recline , and was used by the aborigines to denote rest time ,i.e. the coming of night. To give it the meaning of "Home of rest" would not accord with aboriginal plilology.

Yours faithfully.

F.J. Watson

Nyleta, Union Street, off Mogill Road. Toowong , S.W.1.

Nov. 9th, 1940.

Mr. Sydnay May , Hon. Secretary , Q'land Place Names Committee , University of Queensland ,

Dear Sir,

With reference to your letter of 8th inst. asking for an aboriginal word , reminiscent of the setting Sun , suitable for the name of a boat , I cannot think of any one word that would be applicable , and phrases representing such would be too long to be euphonious. At Wide Bay the blacks actually used the words Tirum karin (Teeroom kareen),literally , Sun go in). At Brisbane , Bigi yanna , (Beegee yan-na) , and at the Logan River,Nyunga-yani ( Nyunga yan-ee) each meaning "Sun gone" would be applicable.

A simple and euphonious Yugumbir (Logan River) ^word which may meet the case is Nyinala. This word really indicates that night has come and,literally, means "rest time"

This would certainly be suitable if the boat is to be used for pleasure purposes. The word may,if wished, be quite correctly be written and pronounced Inala , although the earlier generation of blacks would have used the sound of Spanish n as the initial sound. In pronunciation the first vowel a is long as in In-ah-la.

Yours faithfully,

F.J. Watson

COPY.

"Nyleta" Union Street, Off Mogill Road, TOOWONG. S.W.1.

November 9th, 1940.

Mr. Sydney May, Hon. Secretary, Queensland Place Names Committee, University of Queensland.

Dear Sir,

With reference to your letter of 8th inst. asking for an aboriginal word, reminiscent of the setting Sun, suitable for the name of a boat, I cannot think of any one word that would be applicable, and phrases representing such would be too long to be euphonious. At Wide Bay the blacks actually used the words Tirum karin (Teeroom kareen), literally, Sun go in). At Brisbane, Bigi yanna (Beegee yan-na), and at the Logan River, Nyunga-yani (Nyunga yan-ee) each meaning "Sun gone" would be applicable.

A simple and euphonious Yugumbir (Logan River) word which may meet the case is Nyinala. This word really indicates that night has come and, literally, means "rest time".

This would certainly be suitable if the boat is to be used for pleasure purposes. The word may, if wished, be quite correctly written and pronounced Inala, although the earlier generation of blacks would have used the sound of Spanish n as the initial sound. In pronounciation the first vowel 'a' is long as in In-ah-la.

Yours faithfully,

(Signed) F.J. WATSON

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8th November, 1940.

Mr. F.J. Watson, Grosvenor Street, TOOWONG, S.W.1.

Dear Sir,

I have received an enquiry asking me to suggest a name reminiscent of the setting sun or the sun setting in the West as a possible name for a boat. Could you advise me of any aboriginal word not too long, simple in pronunciation and euphonious which would apply to the above meaning.

An early reply would be appreciated.

Yours Faithfully,

Hon. Secretary.